Clothes-washing machine having a squeeze bag extractor



H. BAADE Sept. 29 1953 2,653,465 CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE HAVING A SQUEEZE BAG EXTRACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 13, 1946 Nor INVENTOR NENRY BAADE AT ORNEY LmrSazzm Vu: km;

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Patented Sept. 29, 1953 CLQT-HES-WASHING MACHINE HAVING Av BAG EXTRACTOR Henry. Baade, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor tQWest inghouselillectric Corporation, East Pittsburgh,

a, a. or o tion f Pe a a Original: application April 13, 1946, Serial No. 6 61,963l Dividedand this application 26, 1.9 eria No. 5,3

10 Claims. (CL 68 21) Thisapmi on s a d vis on imy c pen lin application, Serial No. 661 9fi3, filedApril 13, 19 6, and now abandoned for. Automatic Washing Ma hine:

'l his invention relates to automatic clothes washing machines.

nn object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive safe automatic clothes washing ma Q in e. v

The foregoing, and other objects of the invention which will become apparent as the des ri tion proceeds, are achievedby theprovision of an automatic hydraulic-washer including a tub, an ag tat m mb ioumall n th b q os llatory o m t a hydra l c m tor connected to the agitator for oscillating same, a mul ieseci onyd aul cal era ed cont valv a drain pipe, means connected to the conro alve adapted; 9 unc ion, t e section thereof automati al y, at predete mined p tion Qtanoperativ cyc amea qqnnc ns e ontrol valve to the'.motor for operation thereof, means co ti the c tr l ba h ub for filling same, means connectin the control valveto the tub andto the drainpipe to drain the. tub at predetermined P ints in a cycle, a fluid supply line connected to the control valve, a resi ient Sleeve squredlwiihie h ub t the pper; an o r trem ties hereof to fo m a enc osure t r with, and means connec ing th control valv to he enclosure wi hin the 112.5 that. flu d can serted therein to expand h sleeve, so as to force, it against material in the tu nd xpel fluid the e romilc erence hou d ow he hadtdthe ccomnam ng d awin s, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionoi a. washing 9 chine mb dying th rar nc ples c nv nti n;

F187; s a f mentary, pla vicw'qi h m chineo Fig. 1

F 3. is a diagrammatic YEW! with in ectioah h h drauliccircu t o he mach n of Elsi;

E a is the e lopm ntt heim r Pil valye; cylinder of the invention; and

Big, 5 is the front View oi the control panel of. the nventi n w th t cover t e e or. remo e Re err n w in deta l he t e acc mH n i-e drawings, there isshown an automatic hydraulic washer generally indicated by the numeral ii]. The Washer LB. includes airtime I that sup-ports lll l? of y Wil Q 1 9Q= ll-5 1 by means of brackets: l3. The tubulz has an agitatqr; L4 p si ioned; the ein, which ag tator in: cludes a tubular center portion 15 which is suitably journalled, andvertically positioned in the tubiand which has'a plurality of drainfhols it formed therein. 'Ifhe agitator I4 is suitably positioned for oscillatory movement in the tub I 2 and it has a stationary spray head ll mounted at its end by a tubular member ls which is positioned in the bore of the portion l5 and connests to a fluid supply source disclosedjhereinafter in more detail, cover l9fis'prqvided for the, tub l2, in order'to secure the cover in' 'position, any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for clamping the cover It 'removably o s ea on h frame h t he W6) 9 w b ain d in posi ion ven if appre i bl pressure is setup in the tulo and exerted thereon.

T n, t rm anfi p nsiblic cham r i lw thin the tub l2 for so eezing fluid from clqthes; or otherarticles in the tub, a rubber sleeve 23 is secured to the upperedge of the tub by flanges 24 en ag ng w t he tu edge an being folded back between the tub and the frame I I. A cl'amp ring M may be used also to eliminate any'possibi y of aka e albu the u per end of the sleeve 23; A frustru n -shaped member25 is ,secured to the inside of the base of the tub [.I in a removable manner, as by bolts 26, to position a lower end flange 2] of the sleeve' 2 3 in an annular recess 28 suitably formed in the tub l2.

The operation of the washer It} is automatically controlled by'a multi-section, hydraulically controlled valve 3]. The valve 3! may have a hot fluid inlet 32, a cold fluid inlet 33 a plurality of valve chambers 3.4, 35, 36 31 and 33; and a plurality of outlets 39, 4| 42 and. 43 formed therein. Waterfor other fluid supply lines 32 and 33 from the usual household supply pipes connect to the inlets 33 and 33 for supply of hot and cold fluid thereto If desired a hot and cold water mixing valve of manual or automatic type may be inco ora e i the upply n s 3 and 33. to give washing or rinse water of selected temperature." Often, however, the use of a special mixing valve is unnecessary as the washing water is employed at the temperature of the hot water supply in the household, particularly inasmuch as this temperature i's'often itself thermostatically controlled. A ball valve 44 is provided for each valve chamber and it is controlled by flngers lgi formed on disc-like members 4;!) which are'suitably secured to a flexible diaphragm member 45 mounted in and extending the length oi the valve 3!. Th'fingers'lfi are positioned in the valve3l for limited axial movement and may have packing means '(not shown) associated with them to prevent fluid leakage thereby. However, leakage of fluid from the chambers 35, 3%, and 31 is not serious since it merely serves to drain fluid from the tubular member l8 and the hydraulic motor. A plurality of control chambers M are formed in the valve 3| with one control chamber being associated with each of the valve chambers 3 35, 33, Si and 38. One extremity of each of the control chambers should be movable with relation to the remainder of the valve 3! and in this instance the diaphragm member ts is provided for such purpose, which member has individually movable sections in each control chamber. Conduits es in the valve 3! connect the inlet 33 to each of the control chambers 61 so that fliud will flow thereto and fill such chambers normally so as to move the diaphragm sections and the members it to their uppermost positions and retain the ball valves 44 on their seats in the valve chambers. For a purpose to be explained hereinafter, flow-restricting orifice members M are positioned in the conduits 5E.

The valve chamber 3 has an inlet conduit 51 connected thereto, which conduit connects to a tubular lint screen 52 removably telescoped into engagement with a drain 53 provided for the tub [2, while outlet 39 for such valve chamber connects to the main drain member 54. The valve chambers 35 and 36 connect to their common outlet ll which connects through conduit 55 to the tubular member 18 within the tub so that either hot or cold fluid can be introduced into the tub through the nozzle 17, when desired, but in some cases it may be desired to use only hot, or only cold fluid in which case one valve inlet and one valve chamber should be eliminated. Outlet 32 of the valve chamber 31 connects by conduit 56 to a suitable hydraulic motor 55 for driving the agitator is while the remaining valve outlet 53 connects by conduit 51 to a fluid pressure booster 58. The pressure booster, in turn, is connected to the enclosure 26 formed by the rubber sleeve 23 in the tub 12 by a conduit 55.

It should be observed that the valve 3! has a substantially axially directed chamber 5i therein which connects a second outlet opening 62 of the valve chamber 38 to the valve chamber 34 which is continually open through the outlet 39 to the drain 34. The ball valve is in the valve chamber 33 is adapted to seat on the outlet 62 when moved to its open position for flow of fluid from the inlet 53 to the outlet 43 and ultimately to the expansible chamber 29. However, when the ball valve is returned to its normal closed position fluid flow may, and does occur, by gravity, from the enclosure in the tub back through the booster 53, conduit 51, outlet 13, outlet 62, and chamber 55 to the drain 54.

While the present invention may be practiced with any conventional, or if desired with no, pressure booster in the fluid system used to expel fluid from clothes in the tub l2, a feature of the invention resides in use of the pressure booster 58 which automatically raises the line pressure to apply an appreciably increased force in the expansible chamber 2i In detail, the booster 53 includes an annular chamber 63 which has a suitable pressure member therein for dividing the member into two compartments, which member may comprise a pressure plate 64 that is carried on a flexible diaphragm 55, the edges of which are secured between flanges 63 formed on dished metal housings 63 and 63 used to make the chamber member 63. These flanges 63 may be secured together in any desired manner, for example, by bolts 66. The upper housing 53* of the booster 58 has a relatively small crosssectional area cylinder, or protuberance 6? formed thereon extending outwardly therefrom and it telescopically receives a similarly-shaped, apertured piston, or protuberance 68 formed on a plate 69 carried by the diaphragm 65 in fluidtight relation therewith. The member 63* has air vents 53 formed in its upper surface as the booster 58 is made to carry fluid only in its lower section, which fluid will flow through the telescoped cylinder 61 and piston 88 to the chamber 20. In order to permit flow to the cylinder 55 only when the pressure in the lower chamber section is greater than that in the cylinder 5?, and consequently that in the chamber 25, a ball valve 70 is received on a valve seat ll provided on the plate 54 in registry with the piston 68. The diaphragm 65 is apertured in the vicinity of the valve 19 so that fluid will flow through the valve into the cylinder 61, and a suitable seal ring 12 is provided on the outer end surface of the piston 58 to prevent fluid leaks from the cylinder and piston at the slidable connection therebetween. Fig. 3 clearly illustrates that the cylinder 6i and piston 68 are of relatively small area with relation to the diaphragm 85 so that when fluid is supplied to the pressure booster 58 it first pushes the ball valve Hi from its seat and flows through the cylinder 61, and through the conduit 59, which connects to the upper end of the cylinder 61, to the enclosure chamber 2% formed by the rubber sleeve 23. Such line pressure will then occasion fluid flow through the booster until the sleeve 23 is forced to the squeezing position and line pressure is built up behind the sleeve 23 in the tub i2.

During such flow of fluid to the expansible chamber 20 fluid in the tub drains from the tub [2 through the drain 53 and conduit 5| with some fluid flowing through the drain openings [5 down along or in the member l5 and back into the tub at the bottom thereof near the drain 53, as shown and explained in greater detail in my copending application, Serial No. 675,540, filed June 10, 1946, and entitled Automatic Washing Machine, now Patent No. 2,449,634, granted September 21, 1948.

As a greater compressive action on the clothes in the tub than that effected by line pressure is highly desirable in order to obtain more complete fluid elimination, the ball valve H3 automatically returns to its seat and prevents any further flow of fluid at line pressure through the valve when line pressure exists in the chamber 20. Fluid continues to flow to the pressure booster 58 due to the unequal areas on opposite sides of the diaphragm 65 exposed to line pressure. Such further flow of fluid to the pressure booster lifts the diaphragm 65 and effects relative movement of the piston 68 into the cylinder 6'! to increase the pressure exerted by the rubber sleeve 23 in expelling fluid from clothing in the tub I2. A conical return spring 73 may be positioned between the plate 69 and upper inner surface of the chamber 63 and a pin 14 is positioned in the bottom housing 63 to unseat the valve if! when the pressure supply is removed from the booster 5B and fluid has flowed from the bottom section of the chamber to drop the diaphragm to the lower part of the chamber.

The remaining outlet 42 in the valve 3! connects to the oscillatory hydraulic motor Bll for driving the agitator I4. The motor may comprise an annular housing 16 which has a shaft 11 j'ournalled therein and connected tothe agitator I 4 A vane- 18 is secured to the shaft I 'I' toform aradiall'y directed movablepartition member in the housing 16 while a pair of stationarily positi'oned partitionmembers'm are also provided in, and may be integral with, the housing. The partition-members-lsiform an obtuse angle in the housing 15 to define a Workchamber I51 therein. An inlet member 8I is positioned in. thehousing between the more closely positioned sides of the partitions. The inlet 8| has a pair of opposed chambers 82 formed integrally, or otherwise associated; with it while ports 83 formed. in. the partitions providepermanently open connections between the chambers 82 and the Work chamber I5. Then avalveshafttfl carrying spaced tandem valves 85 is provided in the housing; '85 for limited axial movement. to. control the how of fluid to and from the work chamber I5. through the-chambers 82. The valves 85 are constructed and: arranged to be moved to and from seats 86. on the inletBI so as to direct fluid: flow at one extremity of valve movement into one or the other of the chambers 82'. The valves85 also; cooperate withv and. arev moved with. relation to seats 81 formed on the; outer, or end walls of the chambers182. The valves 85 thus operate to open one of the chambers 82 for fluid input to the work chamber I5 between one partition member I9 andthevane 1:8 through the port 83 in such partition, while the port 83 in the other partition is then connected through its associated chamber 82 to the interior of the housing 16 between the adjacent walls of the partitions. Fluid within such portion of the housing 16 flows therefrom through a drain 88 to the main drain line 54..

The valve means of the motor 60 are controlled by suitable apparatus which is shown to be-lever arms 89' journalled in the housing 16 on shafts- SI. One end of each lever arm 89 is pivotally secured to an extremity of the shaft 84 while the other end of each lever has a pin 92 bearing thereon. The pins 92 are slidably positioned in bosses 93 and 94 formed in the partitions. I9 and on the housing IE, respectively. The pins 92 project into the work chamber I5 and the vane 18 strikes apin as it approaches a partition memher with the pin being moved by such vane until one-of the lever arms 89 is moved so as to. change the position of the valves 85 from one. extremity to another and reverse the flow of fluid under pressure to the work chamber. It is to be noted that the unequal areas of valves 85' and seats 36 and 8'! are important for the reasons that the. unequal areas insure positive seating of the valves 85 in either direction of movement, permit movement of the valves 85 and valve shaft 84 by pins 92 due to almost counterbalanced pressure on valves 85, and yet insure valve closing movement with a snap type of action.

As previously indicated, the control= chambers #1 of the valve 3| are normally full of fluid and this fluid retains the valves M in their closed positions; Automatic timer pilot valve: control means are provided to vary the positions of the sections of the diaphragm 36 so as to effect the desired sequence of washing operations at the proper time intervals. These meansv may comprise a housing It]! having a plurality of inletsm2 which are individually indicated by the letters which. has a plurality of. transversely directed" slotted. apertures I05, I06, I01, I08 and I09 formed 6, therein.- is journalled in': the housing; I I3 I: and. the apertures are adapted? to register; with; the". inlets I02 at. predetermined points of; rotation. of the drum m4- A. drain. conduitv I II: connects the interior of the drum; to the drain. 5&- so. that fluid will flow. from one of; the control chambers through a conduit I00 to the drum I04 and through: a: slotted. aperture" therein, when it registerswith aninlet opening I.il2,jto the drain H I. Sincerthe orificeumembers l9 restrict flow of fluid to: thecontrolchambers 47, fluid therein drains therefrom more: rapidly than it canbe supplied theretct. which effects valve; release action but likewise effects-valve: closing; action when theopen inlet. lea-r is closedby the-rotor drum- I64.

itsuitabledriveis provided: for the rotor. drum Its andit. may include a shaft. I I2 which journals a; gear I lat-hereon; which. gearv I It is driven. by a spur gear M4 that is driven bysuitable means,

. such as. a:cloick-.mechanism II i which has. awind- Operation and timer control In the-developmenttof the-rotor-drumin Fig; 4,

- the operation of'thewasher is-.shown.. The inlet A of the housing; which. controls the draining of the. tub I2" through valve: chamber 3d,.and conduit 5i, functions to open. the drain 53- at three pointsflin the operative cycle, first after the washingaction and then duri'ngand after each of two rinsing actionsgwhile-inlet B only functions once the cycle. starts, through valve chamber conduit 55, and: spray'headi Isl toefiect filling of the tub with hotfiui'dl. Station C of the control is the rinse control; and it functions through. the valve chamber 36-, conduit 55; and spray head I? for two rinsing actions, once. after the wash water is drained from. the tub and then. after the first I rinse waterfis drained; The station D on the control: is forthemotor fimwhich functions through the valve. chamber 31, conduit 56 and valve and inlet means of the motor to oscillate the agitator I15 at three: differentv times. in the operational cycle, first after hot fluid is introduced and secondly with each: insertion of rinse water.

Fig. 4 shows that there maybe a slight overlapping, of. the: drain opening with the rinse actions and, in general, it will be seen that the washing cycle can be set up on the timer control as. desiredfor any given Wash condition. Then the speed of drive. for the rotor drum may be manually'altere'd in any special manner to change the predetermined wash cycle.

A manually-adjustable shut-off valve 68 positioned. in the conduit 58. i usually employed in that by adjusting the valve the speed of the hydraulic motor til can be adjusted. This is important in that fineclothes. can be washed, at a slower agitating: speed than ordinary clothes. In fact, a Wide range of agitating speeds. are readily obtained.

If found advisable in certain installations, for example, farm use, an electric or other motor and pump can be incorporated with the apparatus in association with the supply lines 32 and 33 to provide a constant pressure fluid or water supply to the apparatus. This makes the apparatus independent of fluctuating or no water line pressure.

It will be noted that various features of the washer disclosed herein are suitable for use in other manners than that described since the pressure booster, motor, inulti-section valve, and the valve timer, may be used separately in other hydraulic apparatus. However, their combined action produces a relatively inexpensive automatic washer which has a minimum of parts and is adapted for a long period of use without any service requirement. Hence a dependable allhydraulic automatic Washer is provided and the objects of the invention are achieved.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described, it should be clearly understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, or thereby, but is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for Washing clothes and the like and for expressing washing water therefrom, the combination of a tub for containing a body of washing water and the clothes to be washed, an agitator disposed within the tub for agitating the clothes in the body of washing water, said tub having a bottom Wall and a side wall structure connected to the bottom wall and extending thereabove, said side wall structure being formed, at least in part, of flexible, deformable material which encompasses the agitator, said side wall structure defining an access opening at the upper end thereof for the ingress and egress of the fabrics, means extending through said bottom wall for actuating said agitator relative the tub, a cover for closing the access opening, means for creating a pressure differential between the inner and outer surfaces of said flexible side wall structure to force said flexible side wall structure towards said agitator and means for discharging the expressed water from the interior of the tub.

2. In a machine for washing fabrics and for subsequently compressing the fabrics for the expelling of water therefrom, which operations are carried out in a single enclosure, the combination of a tub including a base having a drain and a sleeve formed of deformable material defining a side wall of the tub and extending upwardly from the base, means securing the lower margin of the sleeve to the base, said sleeve being open at the top for providing access to the tub, a removable cover closing the open top of the tub, means supporting the upper margin of said sleeve, an agitator arranged within the tub and encompassed by the deformable sleeve, means including an oscillating mechanism fixed to the base and arranged below said agitator for actuating said agitator for the washing of the fabrics, and fluid translating means for subjecting the surface of said deformable sleeve interiorly and exteriorly of the tub to a fluid pressure differential with the pressure exteriorly of the sleeve predominating over the pressure interiorly of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is forced generally inwardly toward the agitator for the compression of the fabrics and the expelling of water therefrom, the expelled water passing from the tub through said drain.

3. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle having an opening in its top for the admission of clothes to be washed in said receptacle, a closure for said opening, said receptacle including a bottom wall, a generally verticallyextending side Wall and an upper wall, said bottom wall and upper well being contiguous with said side wall and said upper wall defining said top opening, said upper wall overlying said bottom wall and spaced thereabove, said side wall and at least portions of said upper and bottom walls contiguous with said side wall being formed of flexible material, the inner surface thereof being in contact with clothes and washing fluid contained in the receptacle, an agitator mounted within the receptacle and encompassed by said side wall, means extending through said bottom Wall for oscillating said agitator to agitate clothes and washing fluid contained in the receptacle, means for developing a differential in pressure between the inner and outer surfaces of said flexible material with the higher pressure prevailing on the outer surface of said flexible material to force said flexible material inwardly toward the agitator and effect a squeezing action on clothes contained in the receptacle to express washing fluid from the clothes, said receptacle having a drain opening to remove washing fluid from the receptacle.

i. A machine for washing fabrics and for subsequently compressing the fabrics for the expelling of water therefrom within a single enclosure, the combination of a receptacle having a top opening and including a base having a drain, an agitator within said receptacle, an annular Wall of deformable material surrounding said agitator and drain, means securing the lower extremity of said deformable wall to said base, said deformable wall being open at the top for providing access to the space interiorly thereof, a removable cover for closing said top opening, means for supporting the upper margin of said deformable wall from said receptacle, means extending through said base and including an oscillating mechanism arranged below said agitator for actuating the same to wash fabrics in the space defined by said deformable wall, and fluid translating means for subjecting the exterior and interior surfaces of said deformable wall to a fluid pressure differential with the pressure ex'tericrly of said deformable wall predominating over the pressure interiorly thereof whereby said deformable wall is forced inwardly toward the agitator for the compression of the fabric and the expelling of water therefrom.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle having an opening in its top for the admission of clothes to be washed, a closure for said opening, said receptacle including a bottom Wall and a side wall, an annular flexible wall disposed interiorly of said side wall and having fluid-tight joints with the walls of said receptacle, said flexible Wall being movable inwardly towards the center of the receptacle when the fluid pressure acting on the outer surface thereof is greater than fluid pressure acting on the inner surface thereof, an agitator mounted within the space defined by said flexible wall for oscillating movement, means extending through said bottom wall for oscillating said agitator to agitate clothes and washing fluid contained in the space interiorly of said flexible wall, means for developing a difference in the pressures acting on the exterior and interior surfaces of said flexible wall to move said flexible wall inwardly toward the agitator and effect a squeezing action on the clothes contained in the space interiorly of said flexible wall and thereby express washing fluid from the clothes, and a drain conduit communicating with the space interiorly of said flexible wall to remove washing fluid from said space when said flexible wall is moved inwardly.

6. In a machine for washing fabrics and for expelling water therefrom by compression, the combination of a tub structure having a base, a fixed side wall extending upwardly from the base and provided with an access opening at the top side thereof, a sleeve formed of flexible material disposed within said side wall and defining an expansible chamber between the sleeve and side wall, said sleeve having an upper margin secured to the side wall peripherally of said access opening and a lower margin secured to said base, an agitator disposed within the tub and encompassed by said sleeve, means extending through the base for actuating the agitator, means for conveying fluid under pressure to said chamber for forcing said flexible sleeve inwardly of the tub to compress the intervening fabrics and expell water therefrom and means defining a drain opening in said base for the removal of expelled water from the tub.

7. In a machine for washing fabrics and for expelling water therefrom by compression, the combination of a tub structure including a base having a drain therein and a side wall connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, a flexible sleeve disposed within said side wall and defining an expansible chamber therewith, said sleeve having its upper periphery secured to the side wall and defining an access opening at the top of the tub, said sleeve having its lower periphery secured to said base, an agitator disposed within the tub and including a tubular center portion and a vane carried thereby, said tubular center portion being disposed about a generally vertical axis and open at its bottom adjacent said base, said tubular center portion extending upwardly from adjacent the base to an upper region of the tub and having a hole formed in an upper part thereof for the passage of water from the upper region of the tub to the interior of the tubular center portion and thence to said drain, means extending through the base for oscillating said agitator about said axis and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said expansible chamber for forcing the flexible sleeve inwardly toward the agitator and for compressing intervening fabrics whereby fluid is expelled from the fabrics and discharged through the drain.

8. In a washing machine, a tub including a base and side walls extending thereabove and defining an access opening at the top of the tub, an agitator disposed within the tub, means extending through said base for oscillating the agitator, an expansible sleeve contoured so as to be snugly received within said tub and cover the side walls thereof, said sleeve having a flange formed at its lower end, said sleeve having an upper marginal portion doubled back over the tub peripherally of said access opening, means clamping the marginal portion of the sleeve to said tub, an anchor plate secured to the base of said tub and engaging the flange of said sleeve to secure it to said base and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the space intermediate the sleeve and said side walls of the tub.

9. A washing machine including a stationary tub having a top opening, an agitator disposed within the tub and journaled for movement therein about a generally vertical axis, means projecting through the bottom of the tub for oscillating the agitator about said axis, a flexible sleeve surrounding the agitator coaxially thereof and connected in fluid-tight relation at its top margin to the tub adjacent the top opening of the tub, said sleeve being connected at its bottom margin in fluid-tight relation to the bottom of the tub around said axis, said sleeve normally being positioned adjacent the inner surface of the tub, said agitator extending upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the tub into an upper portion of the tub, said agitator being hollow and open at its bottom and having an opening for the flow of water from said upper portion of the tub through the hollow agitator to the bottom of the tub, and means for subjecting the inner and outer surfaces of said sleeve to a fluid pressure differential with the higher pressure on the outer surface of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is forced inwardly toward the agitator.

10. In a machine for washing fabrics and for subsequently compressing the fabrics for the expelling of water therefrom, which operations are carried out in a single enclosure, the combination of a tub including a base having a drain and a sleeve formed of deformable material defining a side wall of the tub and extending upwardly from the base, means securing the lower margin of the sleeve to the base, said sleeve being open at the top for providing access to the tub, a removable cover closing the open top of the tub, means supporting the upper margin of said sleeve, an agitator arranged within the tub and encompassed by the deformable sleeve, said agitator having a hollow, tubular center portion extending vertically from adjacent the base to an upper region of the tub, said tubular center portion of the agitator being open at its bottom and having a hole formed in an upper part thereof for the passage of water from the tub to the interior of said tubular center portion and thence through the open bottom thereof to said drain, means including an oscillating mechanism fixed to the base and arranged below said agitator for actuating said agitator for the washing of the fabrics, and fluid translating means for subjecting the surfaces of said deformable sleeve interiorly and exteriorly of the tub to a fluid pressure differential with the pressure exteriorly of the sleeve predominating over the pressure interiorly of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is forced generally inwardly toward the agitator for the compression of the fabrics and the expelling of water therefrom, the expelled water passing from the tub through said drain.

HENRY BAADE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,064,787 Ducker Dec. 15, 1.936 2,103,966 Behan Dec. 28, 1937 2,178,385 Alward Oct. 31, 1939 2,258,227 Skinner Oct. 7, 1941 2,279,878 Suits et a1 Apr. 14, 1942 2,282,847 Barifii May 12, 1942 2,472,682 Rand June 7, 1949 

